Amity was awoken by her Luz snuggling closer into her. Even after all this time, she didn't think she'd ever get so used to it enough that it wouldn't be one of her favorite things. The warmth of her partner's body, the softness of her skin, and the smell of her hair.
Unfortunately, they couldn't sleep in today. After seeing the time, she whispered into Luz's ear. "Babe. We've gotta get up."
"Don't wanna," Luz mumbled sleepily. "Wanna spend eternity huddled up warm with my boo."
"Yeah, so do I, but we've got things to do today," Amity replied.
"Today... Today..." Luz mumbled before sitting straight up. "Ah, cripes, I've gotta take that equivalency test today!"
Some things never change. "Honey, you've got this. You graduated Valewitchtorian," Amity reassured as she sat up next to Luz.
"That was magic school. This is regular school, that's always been harder," Luz countered.
"Luz, this is just your nerves getting to you. You are a very smart young woman, you did fine being tested on some of what you're gonna be tested on now, and we spent a lot of time studying everything else. You're gonna own this test even harder than you owned that Mephiles guy four years ago."
"Mephisto," Luz corrected.
"Batata, we both know that he's not important enough for me to bother getting his name right," Amity deadpanned.
"Anyway, I'm still nervous," Luz said.
"Look, mi rama de canela," Amity began, "I don't have to leave for the archaeological site until tomorrow. Once you're done showing this test who's boss, we can spend the whole afternoon blowing off steam."
"...Okay," Luz said. "I'm gonna miss you while you're gone, though."
"I know. I'll miss you too," Amity said, "but it'll only be for a little bit. I'll be back in time for your birthday, which you are not working through again," Amity insisted, "but until then, remember: I expect you to send me a picture of your human diploma on Pensta once you get it."
"I know, I know," Luz said. Then she kissed Amity. "Okay, let's get ready."
And get ready, they did, with minimal distraction.
"I'm coming with you to the Human Realm, I've got something I need to ask Camila about," Amity said as she got her ponytail just right.
"Okay," Luz said.
Soon enough, she and Luz were through the portal door and strolling up the path from the old forest shack to the Noceda residence.
Luz knocked on the front door of her childhood home and was instantly greeted by her mother.
"Oh, Mija," Caila said with a hug, "I was hoping you'd stop by before you went out."
"Always the plan," Luz replied as she returned the hug. "Is Vee here?" She asked as they went inside.
"Yeah, I'm here," the basilisk in question said as they entered the living room. "Not for long though, I've gotta get to work in about forty-five minutes."
"Oh, yeah, you mentioned you and Masha had a project at the historical society?" Luz noted.
"Yeah, we've got something big planned for June," Vee confirmed. "So how are you?"
"I feel like I drank an entire carton of milk," Luz quipped.
"I told her she's got this," Amity added. "And yet? I guess some things never change."
"Mija," Camila started, "you've done so many amazing things, but a little test has you this nervous?"
"This is probably the scariest thing I've ever done," Luz confessed.
"You're an Avenger!" Camila said, exasperated.
"Just a reservist," Luz defended.
"Hermana," Vee started, "you know this whole thing is a formality, right?"
"What do you mean?" Luz asked.
"You got a Nobel Prize in Physics for helping to reconcile magic with quantum mechanics," Vee pointed out.
"That was a group effort with a bunch of people who are smarter than me," Luz said.
"All of whom said they couldn't do it without you," Vee countered. "Anyway, my point is, Gravesfield High is gonna want to have your name associated with them after that. You would have to get everything wrong before you wouldn't pass, and we all know you're too good for that. And Mashy and I spent a lot of time making sure you knew the history stuff that'll be on the test, so..."
"You can't be sure of that; they might have some integrity," Luz countered back.
Vee just stared at Luz for a moment. "Anyway, I have time to kill and the test isn't like for an hour, right? Fly me into town and I'll help you go over some key stuff one last time."
"Okay," Luz agreed.
"Before you go," Camila began, "did you eat breakfast?"
"I did not," Luz admitted.
"Luz, you know better than that," Camila continued. "You'll be able to focus on the test better if you don't have a rumbling stomach to distract you."
"Yeah, but..." Luz deflected, "Um... I'll eat a granola bar or something before I head in."
Camila then took exactly that out of her pocket and handed it to Luz. The woman knew her daughter.
Luz sheepishly took the offered snack and then turned to Vee, "So you wanna go?"
"Yeah, just let me get my bag," Vee said. That took a second, and then, stopping only for Luz to kiss Amity goodbye, the siblings left.
"Did you want something, Amity?" Camila asked.
"Yeah, there's something I need to ask you," the witch replied.
"Alright, I'll make some tea."
In the last four years, Amity had learned to appreciate human realm tea. She couldn't quite describe the subtle differences between it and the tea they had in the demon realm, but... Well, she'd convinced Gus to include teas in the exchanges of goods that he was trying to negotiate in his capacity as official ambassador to the Human Realm.
She took a satisfying sip, but before she could ask her question, Camila asked one of her own.
"So how have you been?"
"Fine," Amity replied, "a little busy, I'm needed at an archeological site, so I'll be heading out of town for a bit. But this is the career I chose."
"The important thing is that you're satisfied with it," Camila noted. "I'm not going to lie, I was a bit worried when Luz told me you were in that big house all alone now."
Edric and Emira had taken their trust funds to buy their own homes and start their own careers and with the new and improved Blight Industries more or less running itself thanks to the managers and accountants Dad had hired after Odalia went to prison he'd elected, once Amity had some of age, to give her her inheritance and then move to a small apartment closer to his new personal lab, where he was working with sigil removal and a few other more personal projects. Thus, Amity was currently the only permanent resident of Blight Manor.
"It's not so bad," Amity replied, "I'm mostly out of the house anyway, either working or on hobbies. I have friends over a lot, Luz is there at least three times a week, and whenever her human friends visit, I'm the one to host them." Like when Dipper and Pacifica were having a problem with their baby and were looking for any and all magical help. Little Penny Pines was perfectly fine, but Amity couldn't fault her parents for worrying, all things considered.
Or when Luz's support group friends sought help from Hunter and Raine for their own 'project.' The support group was still going and had been growing. Luz was now the sponsor of a girl who'd literally gotten lost inside her own head when her mutant gift kicked in, which Magik had decided counted.
"And you know, Luz is planning to move in permanently, sooner or later," Amity continued... "Which reminds me, that question I've got."
"Shoot."
Amity took her time to consider her worlds carefully. "Luz... Back when she... There's something I've been wanting to do for a long time, and Luz and I talked about it when we were younger and decided it needed to be done at the right time, on our own terms, when we're ready. And I think... I think now's the time. But I want to double check how this sort of thing is done in the Human Realm since, since there was some confusion with something else, and..."
Camila smiled as she realized exactly what Amity was trying to say.
TLOA
Luz's eighteenth birthday/belated quinceañera was... Perfect. A celebration with the people she loved, all the friends she'd made over the years, and also Tibbles was there for some reason. The literal capitalist pig was on his best behavior for once, so she didn't question it, but it was a little confusing.
But aside from that, everything was perfect. A perfect blend of tradition and all the quirks she loved about the Boiling Isles, with all of her favorite people and then some. She got to catch up with some favorite teachers and friends she hadn't talked to a lot recently. The gifts she'd received had all been thoughtful; that King's gllyphs were coming in was a pleasant surprise, and the fireworks display the Collector had created had been beautiful.
But now things were winding down. Most people had left, with only her closest friends and family left. All in all, it'd be a satisfying evening.
"We're not done yet," Amity said when she caught Luz yawning. "There's still one last surprise."
"Really? Because this has already been a perfect night," Luz said.
"It can always be more perfect," Amity countered.
"Almost everyone's gone," Luz added.
"This surprise is only appropriate for our closest friends," Amity continued, and she led Luz to the center of the area outside the Owl House where they'd held the party. "Now close your eyes."
"Okay," Luz agreed and complied. She had no clue what could possibly add to this night, but it seemed important to Amity.
"You can open them now," Amity said. What Luz saw when she did so stole her breath.
There was Amity, blushing as tomato-red as Luz had ever seen her, down on one knee. In her hands was an open box, containing a ring. White gold with a modest brilliant cut diamond flanked by obsidian and amethyst.
And then Amity asked Luz an important question.
"Batata, ¿me harías el honor de permitirme convertirme en tu esposa?"
There was only one answer Luz could ever give. "Yes!"